Third Conditional in English + Example Sentences [Advanced Grammar]
This lesson was originally published in 2015.
It was updated with a new video and new content in January 2021.
You’ve probably heard English teachers say, ‘The third conditional is used to talk about impossible or unreal situations in the past.’
But what does that mean? Is it really necessary to talk about something unreal from the past? Something that never even happened?
Today I want to uncover what the third conditional is REALLY used for — because it actually is quite useful — and make it easy for you to use it accurately in your English conversations.
By the time you finish this lesson, you’ll be 100% clear on why and how you should be using the third conditional in English.
In fact, you’ll discover:
- Two primary reasons to use the third conditional in grammar books
- How to accurately use the structure for third conditional sentences
Throughout the video lesson, you’ll be example sentences.
Check out the other lessons in this series:
- Part 1: Zero and First Conditionals
- Part 2: Second Conditional
Grammar Review: Past Participles and the Past Perfect
Before we look at the Third Conditional, let’s review some important grammar forms that we need to use.
The past perfect combines the past form of have → had + the past participle
Examples: had won, had gone, had eaten, had worked, had cleaned
The past participle is that third form of a verb in English. For regular verbs, this is easy:
- work – worked – worked
- clean – cleaned – cleaned
- walk – walked – walked
But for irregular verbs, it’s a bit more challenging. Do you remember memorizing all those verb lists in your English classes? We’ll know that will help you! Irregular verbs use different forms, for example:
- win – won – won
- eat – ate – eaten
- drink – drank – drunk
- go – went – gone
How to Use the Third Conditional in English
The third conditional focuses on a past event/situation that cannot be changed or an unreal past event/situation. Another way to think about is an event or situation that did not happen.
That may seem strange. Why would we talk about something that didn’t happen?
Take a look at these example sentences. Can you identify why we might say these?
- If you hadn’t eaten so much, you wouldn’t have been sick. (But you DID eat too much, so you were sick.)
- She would have gotten the job if she had prepared for the interview. (But she didn’t prepare well for the interview, so she didn’t get the job.)
- I wouldn’t have used this paint color if I had known how dark it would look! (But I didn’t know and now I’m disappointed.)
Expressing Regrets or Wishing We Could Change the Past
I have never met someone who is perfectly happy with every single decision and action that has happened in their life. Have you?
Sometimes we regret the past… past decisions, past actions, past situations, etc. And sometimes we wish something in the past had been different. But it isn’t different. It can’t be different. It’s impossible (that’s the key word!).
But we still wish for it.
To express regret or our wish to change the past, here are some examples:
- If I hadn’t lost my wallet, I would have had much more fun on my vacation. (In reality, I regret that I lost my wallet because I had a terrible vacation.)
- If I had gone to a better university, I would have had better career opportunities. (I wish I could have, but I didn’t have the option)
- If I had studied abroad when I was younger, my English would have been better.
- If I had chosen differently, I would have become a physician.
Criticizing Someone for Something that Already Happened
Sometimes another person makes a decision or does something that we don’t agree with, we don’t like, or that makes us unhappy. It is too late to change it, but we can use the Third Conditional to criticize and show that we are unhappy about it.
- If you hadn’t missed the catch, we would have won the game! (But you did miss the catch so we lost the game and I’m upset!)
- We wouldn’t have been late to the meeting if you had remembered to put gas in the car this morning! (But you did forget to put gas in the car, so we were late.)
Just for Fun
It’s true, just like the Second Conditional, we sometimes use the Third Conditionals for fun or to get to know someone. Sometimes it’s even useful!
Whether in a job interview or meeting someone at a party or bar or simply networking, sometimes we use third conditional questions to start conversations and learn more about who you are.
Examples questions:
- If you could have studied at any university in the world, where would it have been?
- If you hadn’t become a [name your profession], what would you have been?
- What would have been different about your life if you had grown up in another country?
The reality is, you cannot change anything about the past and we are imagining something that is unreal but it is kind of fun, isn’t it?
After you’ve watched the video and reviewed the lesson, I’d love to hear from you!
Whew! That was a tough lesson. I know. Thanks for staying with me to the end!
And now it’s your turn to practice.
- Do you have any regrets about the past or something you wish you could change?
- Have you ever needed to criticize someone for a decision she made or something she did?
Try using the third conditional and share your answers in the comments section below.
Thanks so much for joining me! And if you found this lesson helpful to you, share it with friends or colleagues!
~ Annemarie
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Hi Annemarie,
“If I could start all over again, I would have become a physician” The structure of this sentence is different from the other expamples. Why? Please! Thank you!
Thank you for the excellent and valuable lesson. Here are my examples:
I’m so pleased it was a helpful lesson, Iveta. And you have some great examples of using the third conditional!!
Hi. I would like to ask you a question I have been asking this to native English speakers and the answer has been varied. I think sentence with obligation “have to” in third conditional would be “If I had had to leave here, I could never had met you.” since past perfect is I had left and “have to” is added. Some say this is right and some other say following sentence must be “I would never have met you” while the other say it is totally wrong. Some one pointed out this article and I read though but I… Read more »
Hello Toshiya Kouda,
After would/ could we have to use the main form of the verb so I will put it in that way: “If I had had to leave here, I would/could have never met you.”
If I had started this course earlier, I would not have had problems with my communication at work.
If you had dedicated more time to practice your English skills, you would have been selected for the position abroad.
If I had known him better, I wouldn’t have married him.
Thanks Annemarie for this useful lesson.
My examples
If I hadn’t been so angry and closed I would have arrived at a solution .
If my father hadn’t got married again , my brother and I wouldn’t have had a trial with that woman.
I’m glad it was useful, Silvia. Thanks for sharing your examples. You’ve definitely got the structure correct.
Hi dear Annemarie,
Thank you for this great and useful lesson.
These are my example:
If I had continued my exercises, I would definitely be able to go up the hill.
If you had been on time, we wouldn’t have missed the train.
If I had have more self confidence, I would have gotten better position at work.
Best regards,
Soudabeh
Thank you for your examples, Soudabeh. Just a quick note: in your last sentence in this part: “If I had have more self-confidence…” do you want to change anything? If you think about the verb “have”. What form of a verb does work for Third Conditional?
Thank you for telling me the mistake,
“If I had had more self-confidence..”
Perfectly done!
Hi Annemarie!
Thank you for this lesson! Now it’s crystal clear!!
My examples:
If my mate had got back home on time, we wouldn’t have prepared everything in a hurry and we wouldn’t have got stressed.
If I had got to know you earlier, I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes in English. ( that’s definitely true!!)
Best regards,
Vania
Hi Vania. We’re so glad to hear the lesson was helpful for you, and now, you know exactly how to use Third Conditional. Well done!
Hi Annemarie, Thanks for the great lesson.
My example is,
if I had known how toxic pleasing people would lead my life,
I wouldn’t have chosen that attitude
What an interesting example, Nada! I love it. Thank you for sharing it here.
Thank you Annemarie for this amazing tool to improve our level. Hopefully I won’t get stuck when using the 3rd conditionals. Here are the couple of examples:
1. If I had started this job right after my graduation, by this time I would have got the dream job of my career .
2. If you had left for the airport early this morning, you wouldn’t have missed the flight.
Thank you for your examples, Jolly! Third Conditional isn’t easy, but you did a great job! Thank you for sharing with us!
Hello Annemarie,
Thank you for this lesson.
Here are my examples:
If I had gone with my husband to the store I would have gotten the correct item I needed.
I would have been in the lead position if I had not let my fear stepped in.
Hi Elinor, thank you for your comment and your example sentences. Third Conditional is a tricky one, and as for me, the most challenging, but you coped with the task! Great job!
Hello Annemarie, what a fantastic lesson, thank you!
As you said in this lesson, I also have nerver meet a person who never regrets about the past.
Follow below some exemples:
If I had studied finances before, I would have saved more money.
I wouldn’t have had better english explanations if I hadn’t find this community.
Wish you all the best and congratulations for your commitment in teach English.
Best regards,
Evair Andrade
Well done, Evair Andrade! And thank you for sharing your example. We’re so pleased to know you enjoyed the lesson.
If I had found a professional teacher in English, I wouldn’t have gotten stuck in the same place.
Hi Annemarie , Thank you for the lesson, it helps a lot to me….here are some example,
I wouldn’t have been so nervous of riding bicycle on the road at my age of 40 if I had learnt it in my childhood.
If my friend’s son had written the essay better, he would have secured his place in the high School.
I wouldn’t have written this advance English if I hadn’t found Annemarie on Facebook.
If I had known the speakconfidentenglish would help me improving my English I would have joined this group before.
Thank you for sharing your examples with us, Sima! We’re happy to know the lesson was useful for you.
Hello Annemarie, very informative lesson. Thanks for sharing.
1- If I had concentrated on my english more than anything else upon arrival to Canada, I would have gotten a professional job.
2- He wouldn’t have gotten a high blood pressure, if he had taken a healthy diet.
Hi Nasrin. We’re thrilled to know Annemarie’s lesson was helpful to you, and we wish you much continued success in your English.
Hello Annemarie,
Your lessons are so helpfulI. I finally understand the third conditional ! Thank you for explanation and lots of example sentences.
My examples:
I’m looking forward to your next lesson!
Best wishes 🙂
Agnieszka
If I hadn’t married Tony,I would have been a better person today
Hi Agnieszka, we’re so glad to hear that the lesson was helpful to you and you understood how to use the Third Conditional in English. Also, it’s great to see that you created your own examples. Great work!
If I had been more careful in driving when I was 18, I would not have payed all those fines
Good example, Fin!
Hello Annemarie, thank you so much for this really helpful lession!
If I would had worn warm winter tights I wouldn’t have got cold while walking the dog.
If he had bought a satellite telephone he wouldn’t have got lost in the desert.
Hi Leandra, I’m so pleased to know this was helpful. And you’ve got some wonderful examples here. Thank you for sharing.
I wish I had attended a better university, I would have been confident with my English.
If I had studied abroad, I would have been more confident in how I speak English.
Thanks for sharing your examples, Dudu! Well done.
I would have spoken English easily now if I had practiced more last two years.
It is a really useful section.i got a clear idea after read this section.Thank you mam.If I had known this website previously,I would have read.
Hi Tijo,
I’m very happy to hear that this lesson was useful to you!
If I had practiced the pronunciation more when I was much younger, my English would have sounded so much better.
If he had taken my advice to bring warmer pajamas when he went on camping in winter, he would have slept through the night.
Thank you for your lessons. Recently, I have been thinking that I want to learn the conditionals once again, so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect 🙂
I am looking forward to your next lesson!
Hello Kumiko,
Wonderful! I’m thrilled the lessons were useful and timely for you. Thanks for letting me know.
A great examples. I appreciate you sharing them here on the lesson. Best wishes, Annemarie
Hello, Annemarie
My example is; If I had studied my English properly I would have been a part of abig foreign company
Well done, Yulia! And thank you for sharing your example. The good news is, it’s never too late to make a change! 🙂
Best, Annemarie
Thanks, very useful and full lesson. lately for me 2nd and 3rd conditionals were the same. but now i know the differences between them.
If i hadnt become a teacher i would have been a painter.
If i had not forgotten my mobile phone at home i wouldnt have been late to the conference.
Hello Victoria,
Yes! Perfect examples. Great job! And I am so glad that I was able to help clarify the difference between the 2nd and 3rd conditionals.
Thank you for your comment and for your examples. Have a great day! – Annemarie